Mass media in Serbia

Mass media in Serbia refers to the many ways people in Serbia get news and information, such as through television, magazines, and newspapers. These media outlets are run by both the government and private companies that make money from ads, subscriptions, and sales.

Serbia's laws say that everyone should be able to speak freely and share news without being stopped, as protected by the Constitution of Serbia and its legal system. However, even though things have improved a little since the end of a difficult time under the Milošević regime in 2000, there are still problems that make it hard for the press to work completely freely.

As of 2024, Serbia was ranked 98th out of 180 countries in the Press Freedom Index made by Reporters Without Borders. This shows that while there has been some progress, there is still a long way to go for a fully free press in Serbia. The country has moved backward from its earlier rank of 59th in 2016, showing that press freedom remains a challenge.

History

In the 1990s, the media in Serbia were split between those controlled by the government and independent ones. During the rule of Slobodan Milošević, the media were often used against people and countries that opposed the government. Civil groups and help from other countries supported the creation of independent media. By 2000, Serbia had many radio and TV stations, with many being privately owned.

After Milošević's rule ended, most government media quickly changed to support the new leaders. But later governments did not fully improve the media system. Media changes happened slowly and without a clear plan. By 2010, Serbia had many newspapers, radio stations, TV stations, and online media. Many people still read newspapers and listen to the radio every day, but the media face challenges because they do not earn enough money from ads. Some of the ad money comes from the government, but there are no rules to control this.

Legislative framework

Serbia's laws support free media, ensuring that people can share information without needing special permission. The government cannot control what media says, and there are rules to protect journalists and their sources. However, some problems remain, like unclear ownership of media companies and challenges in enforcing these rules.

Journalists in Serbia often face difficult working conditions, with low pay and little protection. There have been cases where journalists were threatened or attacked while doing their jobs. Even though there are codes of conduct to guide good reporting, not all media follow these rules. Despite these challenges, many journalists continue to work honestly and carefully.

Media freedom

Main articles: Media freedom in Serbia and Censorship in Serbia

In Serbia, people have the right to speak freely and share ideas, as protected by the country's rules. However, many news outlets rely on money from ads and government support, which can put pressure on journalists. In 2024, Serbia was ranked 98th out of 180 countries for how free the press is, according to a report by Reporters without borders. This ranking shows that there is still work to be done to make sure news reporting stays fair and open.

Media outlets

Print media

Main article: List of newspapers in Serbia

Serbia got its first newspaper in 1834. Politika started in 1904 and is still around today. It is the oldest daily newspaper in the Balkans. It brought new ways of reporting and introduced ideas that helped improve journalism in the area.

During a time when one party controlled everything, newspapers were used to share messages supporting that party. Later, new papers began to share different ideas. After 2000, many papers changed ownership, and some became more focused on stories about celebrities and entertainment.

Radio broadcasting

Radio Belgrade began in 1929. Local radio stations started after World War II and grew in the 1960s. Commercial radio stations began in the 1990s. One early example was Studio B, created by journalists from Borba, which shared music and local news.

Radio B92 began in 1989 as a small project. It became very popular because of its unique style and focus on important issues. Even when it was closed by the government, people kept supporting it. Today, there are 220 radio stations in Serbia.

Television broadcasting

Main article: Television in Serbia

Television started in Serbia in 1958. The main station was called Television Belgrade, and later became Radio Television of Serbia. More channels were added over the years. Under some leaders, the government controlled television.

Today, television is very popular in Serbia. People watch about five hours of TV each day. There are many channels, both public and private. Serbia switched to digital TV broadcasting in 2015.

News agencies

Active

There are three national news agencies in Serbia: Beta, Fonet and Tanjug Tačno.

• Beta started in 1994. It provides news in Serbian, English, and other languages. It also runs radio stations and a website focused on fighting unfair practices.
• Fonet offers special news about the European Union.
• Tanjug Tačno started in 2020 and uses the name of an older news agency. It is the largest news agency in Serbia.

Defunct

• Tanjug was a news agency that started in 1945. It closed in 2021. Many of its journalists went to work for new agencies. Its photo collection about important events is kept in the Archives of Yugoslavia.

Media Organisations

Serbia has two main groups for journalists: the Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS) and the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS). UNS was created in 1881 and has grown to about 6,000 members. NUNS, started in 2009, has around 2,400 members. Both groups work to protect journalists' rights and promote free and fair news reporting.

There are also other groups that help media companies stay independent and improve their work. For example, the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) supports radio and TV stations. These groups help make sure media can operate without political pressure and follow professional standards. However, many journalists in Serbia still face challenges, such as low pay and lack of secure jobs, especially in smaller local media.